The 5th International Green Roof Congress in Kuwait (17-18th February 2018, Al Shaheed Park) is only a week away. For the first time this special event will bring together Green Building experts from the Middle East, Europe and the USA for a cross-border exchange of experiences in the field of Green Roofs and Green Walls.

Noted French Botanist Patrick Blanc Added to Distinguished Speakers

Part of the outstanding speaker programme is Patrick Blanc, the inventor of the Mur Végétal or Vertical Garden concept – plant walls, which enable the introduction of biodiversity onto the concrete walls of towns. Altogether, Patrick has created over 300 Vertical Gardens all over the world including projects in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.

The 5th International Green Roof Congress 2018 is under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al Sabah – Minister of Al-Diwan Al-Amiri. The Amiri Diwan has successfully rehabilitated the Al Shaheed Park with wide green spaces, landscaping and waterfalls, as well as many buildings and multi-purpose facilities and uses – and it’s one of the largest green roofs in the world.

Pioneering Congress in the Persian Gulf

The pioneering congress in Kuwait will have an important impact on the development of the Green Building topic in the Middle East. More information about the exciting congress programme with excursion, lectures, panel discussion and evening reception can be found at www.greenroofworld.com.

Wolfgang Ansel is a biologist and the Director of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA). One of his main areas of work is implementing Green Roof policies and guidelines on an international level. Wolfgang Ansel is co-author of different Green Roof books.

During the last years, he was an invited speaker at congresses in Europe, North America, and Asia. IGRA’s targets include the worldwide promotion of the ecological Green Roof idea, an international knowledge transfer in the field of Green Roofs, and the stimulation of international standards for good practices and reliable Green Roof technology.

The first IGRA Congress in the Persian Gulf region will focus on Nature Based Solutions for Green Buildings in dry climates. Practical Green Roof and Green Wall technology will be presented, discussed and taught along with the latest achievements in standards, science, and municipal strategies.

An International Line-up of Speakers

Greenroofs.com will present the Top 10 Living Architecture Trends in Dry & Sub-Humid Regions. From beautiful vertical gardens in Chile, Bahrain, and Kuwait to desert oases from Denver, Riyadh and Dubai to combining living roofs and walls, energy and other green technologies, Linda Velazquez has selected spectacular and eco-sensitive designs that are succeeding in harsh regions of the world.

More information about the outstanding Speaker Programme with experts from the Middle East, Europe, and the US can be found at www.greenroofworld.com.

Kuwait City – The Host City

The Persian Gulf country awaits its visitors with an intriguing mix of western liberalism and traditional Islamic culture. The capital, Kuwait City, is a modern metropolis with high-rise buildings and luxury hotels. Kuwait City has numerous attractions which include excellent museums, a corniche ornamented with combed beaches and extravagant restaurants, modern shopping complexes and marinas, long and lazy retreats, and new beach resorts.

A Very Green Congress Venue

The congress venue, Al Shaheed Park in Kuwait City (http://alshaheedpark.com) with almost 80,000 m² of Green Roofs, is a prime example of how to meet the challenges of hot and dry climates by using appropriate Green Roof systems.

We look forward to seeing you in Kuwait. Please don’t hesitate to share this information within your network of living architecture and green infrastructure colleagues.

~ Wolfgang Ansel of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA)

Wolfgang Ansel is a biologist and the Director of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA). One of his main areas of work is implementing Green Roof policies and guidelines on an international level. Wolfgang Ansel is co-author of different Green Roof books.

During the last years, he was an invited speaker at congresses in Europe, North America, and Asia. IGRA’s targets include the worldwide promotion of the ecological Green Roof idea, an international knowledge transfer in the field of Green Roofs, and the stimulation of international standards for good practices and reliable Green Roof technology.

More than one-third of the world population already lives in dry climates, without considering the global metropolitan areas which often are grappling with the same problems and referred to as “city deserts.” The performance of Green Roofs in these special environments is strongly connected with the availability and scarcity of water and the limited types of plants which are able to tolerate these harsh weather conditions.

Therefore, the water and planting issue is a common thread of the congress presentations and discussions (learn more at www.greenroofworld.com). The congress is kindly supported by the Al Diwan al Amiri of Kuwait.

Congress Venue

The congress venue, Al Shaheed Park in Kuwait City, consists of 310,000 m² of greenery, featuring a modern congress center, beautiful botanical gardens, museums, a miniature of old Kuwait, walkways, jogging tracks, lakes, river landscapes and an amazing musical fountain.

With almost 80,000 m² of Green Roofs, the largest urban park in Kuwait represents at the same time a prime example of how to meet the challenges of hot and dry climate by using appropriate Green Roof systems.

The bios of the speakers from the Middle East, the US, and Europe are available at the congress website: www.greenroofworld.com.

Green Wall project in Dubai. Copyright: Green Studios.

Featured Green Roof Architecture

A series of groundbreaking and high-profile projects involving Green Roofs and Living Walls will be presented at the congress.

Al Shaheed Park is the most significant Green Infrastructure project in Kuwait and, at the same time, one of the largest Green Roof projects in the world. During the first construction phase (2013–2015) almost all buildings were fitted with roof greening.

In 2017 the second expansion “Phase II” was opened for the public, thus doubling the total Green Roof area of the park. In total, Al Shaheed Park encompasses 35,000 m² of Green Roofs.

Al Shaheed Park narrates the story of a land, its history, and culture. Copyright: Al Hani Construction and Trading Company.

The design for the new Google Campus at King’s Cross in London is taking advantage of the contextually defined building envelope while creating continuously cascading work environments that will connect Googlers across multiple floors. By opening up the ground floor and activating the roofscape, the light and airy workspaces are sandwiched between the terraced gardens on the roof and market halls, auditoria, and shops on the ground.

Seoullo 7017, a true plant village, has been created on a former inner city highway in central Seoul. The ever-changing urban area has been transformed into a 983-metre long public park. Fifty families of plants including trees, shrubs and flowers are displayed in 645 tree pots, and a total of approximately 228 species and sub-species have found their home in the park.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, includes the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera, as well as the creation of the 210,000 m² Stavros Niarchos Park.

The “metamorphoses of a topos” has been designed with a sustainable approach, respecting the surrounding ecosystems and the landscape dynamics. The SNFCC includes 25,568 m² of Green Roofs.

Join IGRA in Kuwait this February

The congress is for everyone whose profession brings them into contact with Green Roofs and those who wish to learn about the latest technology in this field. This includes architects, installers, landscape architects, planners, representatives of local authorities and environmental agencies, investors, and manufacturers.

Join us for a top-level program focusing on innovative new technologies, stunning architecture, pioneering urban development projects and many opportunities to network with international leaders in the field of Green Roofs.

The first IGRA event in the Persian Gulf region will provide a perfect platform for the launch of a successful Green Roof campaign in this geographical area.

Wolfgang Ansel is a biologist and the Director of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA). One of his main areas of work is implementing Green Roof policies and guidelines on an international level. Wolfgang Ansel is co-author of different Green Roof books.

During the last years, he was an invited speaker at congresses in Europe, North America, and Asia. IGRA’s targets include the worldwide promotion of the ecological Green Roof idea, an international knowledge transfer in the field of Green Roofs, and the stimulation of international standards for good practices and reliable Green Roof technology.

Greenroofs.com’s 4th biennial web-based Virtual Summit is ending on December 31, 2017 ~ why not spend some of your down time during the holidays catching up with some of our industry’s most valued and interesting greenroof and greenwall colleagues?

The 2017 Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit Comes to a Close Soon

Presented by Greenroofs.com, our Virtual Summits only take place every other year. Held completely online, these marquee innovation events run on demand with live social media events – and for 2017, our Virtual Summit comes to a close on December 31, 2017.

Special Discounted Pricing Through the End of the Year

Register through December 31, 2017 at the 50% off discounted rate of only $25:

In addition to increasing awareness of our living architecture market and industry, the Virtual Summit 2017 is an interactive platform for idea interchange through a combination of environmentally forward videos from keynote speakers, individual & collaborative offerings, and expert panel sessions along with social media happenings.

Highlighting Excellence and Lessons Learned in Green Living Architecture

Come watch a host of fellow influencers from around the world: 40 presenters from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Iran, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, UK, and the U.S.

Experience some of the latest projects and developments in vegetated building envelopes worldwide, and learn about avant-garde architects, landscape architects, designers, educators, and leaders of government who have captured the essence of living with nature.

Noted botanist and researcher Patrick Blanc, PhD, inventor of the Vertical Garden, or Le Mur Végétal, whose over 250 biodiverse designs include the One Central Park in Sydney and the Quai Branly Museum in Paris;

Educational, affordable local food systems, and workforce development innovator Stephen Ritz, responsible for the new National Health, Wellness and Learning Center at CS 55 in South Bronx and founder of the Green Bronx Machine;

Industry leader Joanne Rodriguez, CSI, CDT, LEED AP, with two decades of experience working within the building products and construction communities, with an emphasis on sustainable building impacts and high performance building envelope assemblies.

Round #1 Speakers

Watch and learn from our 4 awesome Keynotes and 27 esteemed Speakers from Round #1 who explore current trends in living architecture, classroom food literacy, certified student workforce training, sustainable stormwater design, rooftop urban ag and more, from the micro-scale of dwellings to the macro-scale of cities.

Round #2 Speakers

…PLUS our 10 brand new Short Videos (under 10 minutes) from 9 new colleagues, firms, and organizations from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the U.S.:

See the entire Agendato learn more about each video check out all of our 40 wonderful Speakers and their widely varied 36 talks – short, medium, and long!

Industry Support

Additionally, we must thank our Sponsors, Exhibitors, and living architecture/green infrastructure Organization Partners who have supported our work in 2017:

See What the Rest of Us Are Doing and Support Our Work

Come and hear perspectives from a truly diverse and wide range of professionals – at your leisure, but only for the next two and a half weeks! If you haven’t joined us yet, take advantage of the 50% off special registration rate now through the end of year.

Support our work, learn about new projects, happenings, and people – and connect with your fellow green infrastructure colleagues from across the planet.